Sprinkler head



. Nov.l9, 1929. H. w. DOUGHTY 1,736,255

SPRINKLER HEAD Filed June 26, 1928 INVENTOR I fiwar/ fl/ fer; 200747 ATTORN EY5 charged. The outlet is sealed normally by pressure. Preferably the foil is mounted Patented Nov. 19, 1929 i 1,735,255

unites stares PATEN? crews Application filed June 26, 1928. Serial No. 288,466.

This invention relates to fire-extinguishing The base is formed with a shoulder surapparatus and particularly to sprinkler heads rounding the opening therein and a correadapted to deliver extinguishing liquid au-' spondingshoulder is provided at the bottom tomatically when a fire occurs in the vicinity of the link support. Between these shoulof one or more of the heads which are disders I insert a diaphragm of frangible matei tributed about the premises to be protected. rial, preferably of metal foilsuch as alumi- S-prinkler heads as used heretofore commun foil, tin foil or the like. The thickness prise a body adapted to be connected to a pipe of the foil may be determined with reference line or liquid receptacle and having an outlet to the pressure at which it is intended to opening through which the liquid is disrupture and the area which is exposed to the a closure which is held in engagement thereetween two metal washers having openings with by a fusible link. When the temperature therein registering with the openings in the in the vicinity of a head rises to a predeterbase and the link support. Thewashers may mined point the link fuses and the pressure be coated before assembling with a suitable of the liquid lifts the closure so that the lut-ing material'such as nitro-cellulose paste liquid is permitted to escape in the form of or a mixture of glycerine and litharge to enspray, and is distributedover the surroundsure a tight joint. ing surface. I provide a closure which is adapted to rest It sometimes happens that the closure does on the upper washer above the opening therenot tightly seal the outlet and leakage may in. A thin metal cup-shaped disk is suitable. occur with resulting damage to material in One end of the fusible link engages-this 010- the vicinity of the head. Moreover, in cersure while-the other is held by a screw in the tain types of extinguishers the pressure relink support which permits suitable adjust,-

. 25 quired to eject the liquid is developed by the ment of the parts. i heat resulting from the fire. In such extin- When the sprinkler head is assembled, the 1 which is subject to the duel control of temguishers it is desirable that the closure should washers enclosing the foil diaphragm are not be released prematurely. firmly held'between theshoulders on the base It is the object of the present inventionto and linksupport, thus sealing the outlet. provide an improved sprinklerheadwhich The disk is likewise held; firmly above the affords a tight Seal f r the liq id Wi h, foil diaphragm by the fusible link. Leak however, is released under pp iqr icon. age cannot occur, therefore, even if the link ditions to Pe m the d to n is loosened slightly unless the pressure is further lf of inventlon S h P sufficient to rupture the diaphragm. Nor- ,v1s1on of-a s rlnkler head the operation of pmally the pressure in an Ordinary System will be suflicient to rupture the diaphragm P di Pressure f l q Q only when the pressure exerted by the disk. that t condltlons under m the'hquld 13 is removed as when the link isfused' In syspermltfed to escape F be more accurately tems in which the pressure is developed by if gii fgh Out-the invntion I P d a the heat of the fire liquid cannot escape until sprinkler hezi d of the ordinary type includgl g rises a P mmd mgfiol. example a base aiyld a Sum-9013b thniacb v In the o eration of the device as described edly connected thereto for the fusible hnk. 1 p I V f fi I i 45 An openin r is provided in the base which is PiQ t 18 Occurrence 0 I re t 16 h r adapted to be connected to a pipe line or to a 15 melted when a m R P 6 13 treceptacle for liquid. A similar opening is mlned- The PTQSSHI'Q 1 the hu provided in the support for the link and the leasfid m t P} 1 E f the lq l 1n the two openings register when the parts are assystem is permitted to rupture the dla- 50 sembled. phragm, thus releasing the liquid which is 1 is attained the pressure will rupture the diaphragm and the liquid will be sprayed over the surrounding surface. The dual control of temperature and fluid pressure is" particularly desirable where the expansive agent is a substance such as ammonia water. Am-

monia water isvery sensitive to changes of temperature and it frequently happens that the temperature during the summer .is high enough to cause sufficient expansion to distort the diaphragm although not high enough to rupture the same and cause discharge. Such distortion weakens the dia Jhragm and may even develop pine holes. epeated strains of that sort may weaken the diaphragm to such an extent as to permit discharge at less than. the predetermined temperature. By havingthe diaphragm subject to t mperature control as well as fluid pressure control. such strains on the diaphragm can be avoided and the'diaphragm maintained at all times in first class condition.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the followingspecification and accompanying drawing in'which head and Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the sprinkler Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the diaphragm and washers.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the base having a threaded opening 6 therethrough whereby the head is assembled with a pipe or receptacle for liquid. The base is providedwith a threaded flange 7 to receive the link supporthaving an opening 8 registering with the opening 6 and'a loop 9. A

.f screw 10 supported in the loop-isslotted at 11 toengage one'end of a link comprising,

for example, members-12 which are secured v together with a metal which is fusible at relatively low temperatures. A locking clamp 13's'ecures the screw when it has been adjusted.

, --Two washers ll and15 are disposed between the shoulders 16 and'17 on the base and link support respectively and a diaphragm 18 of frangible material such as metal foil is disr posed between the washers each of which 3 I has acentralopening 19. The foil and washers may be cemented together as hereinbefore indicated.

A disk 20 rests on the opening in the wash-- link, The disk forms a closure which is-released when the link is fused. The diaphragm is then subjected to the pressure of liquid in the system.

tured when a suflicient pressure is applied thereto.

The device as described affords a simple and satisfactory sprinkler head which avoids the difliculties met heretofore; The dual control of the release is particularly ,eflec-' tive in preventing premature release of the Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the tinguisher reaches a predeterminedfamount above that normally maintained.

2. In a sprinkler head for use in fire extinguishers in which thepressure, normally maintained is below the operating pressure. the combination of a base having an open ing affording a passage for fluid from the extinguisher, andmeans subject to dual control of temperature and fluid pressure in- V eluding a frangible diaphragm, said means preventing the escape of fluid through said opening until the pressure in the extinguisher reaches a predetermined-amount above that normally maintained.

3. In a sprinklerhead for'us e in fire ext,

tinguishers in which the pressure normally maintained is below the operating pressure,

the combination of a base-having an openlng affordlng a passage for fluid fromthe extmgulsher, and means sub ect to dual control of temperature and fluid pressure ineluding a frangible diaphragm and av fusible link associated therewith, saidmeans pre- 11 venting theescape of fluidthrough said open- I ing until the pressure in the extinguisher reaches a predeterm ned amount "above that 'normallymaintained.

.- 4. In a sprinkler headthe combination baselhaving an opening affording a passagefor liquld, a fusible link support cofn nected to the base and having {an openiing registerlng'" with the opening in the. base, a frangible dlaphragmj between the, base and a fusible link between the, disk'andj'the sup- 60 per 15 and is engagedby the end of the fusible '5. In a sprinkler head the combination of a base having'an opening affording a p t sage for liquid, a-fusible link suppdrt f'connected to thefbase and having an opening no support, a disk engaging the diaphragmand registering with the opening in the b'ase washers between the base and supportfa frangible diaphragm between the Washers, a disk engaging the diaphragm and a fusible link between the disk and the support Whereby rupture of the diaphragm is prevented until the fusible link is released.

HOWARD WATERS DOUGHTY. 

